The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-11-24

request in such courteous terms, he
was fain to comply.
| He therefore alighted, and tried to
do so promptly, but his motions were
not SO graceful as usual; there seemed
a tremulous excitement, almost stag
| ger in his movements, when he looked
about him.
-Four men, armed with cutlasses,
rifles and revolvers stood ready to re-
ceiye him. The upper half of each
face was covered with black mask.
They were evidently natives, save one
- whose head, broader than the
Others at the temples. and rudy face
below the mask, ending in a thin,
frouzly, tow-colored goatee-seemed to
indicate an Englishman. Mr.. Wood.
noting him carefully, thought he had
seen him before, but failed in every at
tempt to place him.
"Senor Wood" said the spokesman,
advancing, 81 am pleased to meet
you, and regret that you are not able
to reciprOcate the cordial sentiments
l entertHin for you. l must gay. Anai-
guiLO, you wear a charming hat, and
such things are SO common to you that
l am sure there will be no objection to
an exchange. See what poor thing
] wear and so unsuited TO my years
and position in society! it fits well,
too. And also, Senior Wood, you are
said to possess an excellent watch; that
sir, would be an extremely convenient
article to have. in my profession, that
| may be prompt in meeting the stage,
and thus avoid tiresome watching. /
will accept 1t, with your permission. "
Mr.. Wood was rapidly learning to
adapt himself to circumstances. He
knew he must submit to being stripped,
SO, handing over the watch with the
best grace possible, he said, with Il
smile and bow: May l present you
with a pistol, as good us there is in the
republic, except your own?"
'Oh, senior! now you flatter me; l
accept it in your name, AniiguiliO.
And also, senior, l admire your coat;
let us exchange; your trousers, too,
will fit me nicely, and your boots, even
if little large, will be better than
these. Have the goodness to be seated
on my old coat, and we will assist you
in removing them; we are experienced
Wallets"
To have observed the face of Mr.. Ed
gar Wood now,you would have thought
he was engaged in frolic. He used to
say, in telling this story, that he felt
all through the performance as if he
were being joked by friend.
"And now," continued the ladron,
1--WE will trouble you, Senior Wood, to
pass out your valise, if you will be SO
obliging."
Mr. Wood hesitated for the first time,
and looked around, but there was no
mercy; the muzzles of three pieces
looked into his eyes, while he replied:
VERY well. gentlemen, if you insist. y"
He handed out the heavy valise, which
was taken aside by the Mexicans,
while the English-looking thief kept
guard at the stage-doOr. When the
precious cargo was removed to a short
distance from its owner, the sentinel
muttered to him in English: IF you
give me two thousand dollars, unseen,
from your belt, you can save the rest;
otherwise, I'll fix every dollar you've
got"
Mr.. Wood felt sure he had some
where seen the face, of which the mouth
and chin were exposed, but if he sus-
pected the truth he kept it to himself,
and quietly handed over the money to
the man.
In few minutes the nearly empty
yalise was returned, and the party
oade the traveller adieu and wished him
a safe journey. In his disagreeable
fix he could only ride till he met the
return stage, and go with it to the
capital, under the shelter of shawl
lent him by sympathetic lady among
the passengers, with whom, at noon,
he entered the patio, from which he
had so exultingly sailed in the early
morning. The idle populace, as usual,
rushed in with the stage and witnessed
the discontinue of the American, as
he darted across the pavement to the
nearest entrance of the hotel and made
his way to his room.
When Mr.. Wood emerged thcrefrom
he made his way to the English bank
to deposit the papers saved in his belt,
and there encountered the second sur
prise of the day. The teller who re-
ceived and credited him with the
amount was the counterpart of the
English robber of the morning; but he
had no beard, nor could Wood recall
that he had even seen him adorned
with that symptom of manhood. II
was impossible that he should be
ladron-his position in the bank, his
easy, self-possessed manner, not brazen,
but natural and innocent No, it was
4 mistake.
The next day, there being several
Mexican merchants to start for Vera
Cruz Mr. Henry Yorke, of Wood &
CO., was dispatched with them in the
morning stage. He went well armed,
and had the name of being fighting
man. But, as yet, no crowd of Next
can passengers has frightened band
of robbers from its enterprise, and so,
at sunrise, Yorke discovered two small
squads of horsemen bearing down on
the stage from opposite directions.
There are six of Them" he said.
and we are nine men, with only one